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Articles 1 - 19 of 19
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Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Policy In The U.S., Jennifer C. Jarrell
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Policy In The U.S., Jennifer C. Jarrell
Public Health Theses
HPV vaccine school entry mandates and vaccine funding by state was examined using the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. The DOI was applied to HPV immunization policy to evaluate the rate of vaccine adoption and to determine whether associations existed between an empirical need for vaccine adoption and action by the states. State-level data on political characteristics, health and policy were collected from several secondary sources. Data analyses were performed utilizing SPSS logistic regression models. Odds rations were used to evaluate the associations between the independent and dependent variables to determine whether there was a statistical significance level of .05. …
Adolescent Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Toward Vaccination, Richard Brendan Noggle
Adolescent Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Toward Vaccination, Richard Brendan Noggle
Public Health Theses
Vaccination, one of public health’s greatest disease prevention tools, is broadening to focus on adolescents. Now that there are more vaccines targeted specifically for adolescents, it is time to give more focus to vaccine delivery in this population. This research will increase the knowledge base to support informed changes in adolescent vaccine delivery by identifying knowledge and attitudes of adolescents toward vaccination within the context of barriers and solutions. Perceived susceptibility to disease, benefits and barriers to vaccination and other constructs were collected through a survey to 1368 high school students. In this population, a scheduled adolescent healthcare visit is …
Urban Versus Rural Patterns Of Mammography Use: An Analysis Of Two Southeastern States, Valerie Miranda Bycott
Urban Versus Rural Patterns Of Mammography Use: An Analysis Of Two Southeastern States, Valerie Miranda Bycott
Public Health Theses
Mammography is widely recognized as the best method to detect breast cancer. This study examined the screening rate differences among women who live in urban and rural counties in Georgia and North Carolina. Data on the mammography screening rates was obtained from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 2002 and 2004. To assess the availability of mammography facilities, data was obtained from the Mammography Facility Database provided by the FDA. Multivariate logistic regression showed that having a usual source of care in urban counties was a positive predictor of women 40-59 years of age getting screened in both …
Demographic Factors Associated With Condom Use In 18-24 Year Olds For Two States, 1998 And 2000/2001, Kimberly R. Glenn
Demographic Factors Associated With Condom Use In 18-24 Year Olds For Two States, 1998 And 2000/2001, Kimberly R. Glenn
Public Health Theses
Despite knowledge about the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), young adults continue to participate in sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse. This study examines factors that influence condom use in adults aged 18-24 years in the United States. Using secondary data from the 1998, 2000, and 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the factors influencing condom use stratified by gender and study year. A p-value of <0.05 and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine statistical significance throughout all analysis performed. Univariate analysis found that increased age and being male were associated with increased odds of condom use. Multivariate analysis stratified by study year found that in 1998 increased age and unemployment was associated with increased odds of condom use. In 2000/2001, increased age was the only factor associated with increased odds of condom use. Being female was associated with decreased odds of condom use in that study year. When stratified by gender, only increased age was associated with increased condom use. The study results suggest that the factors influencing condom use vary between gender and year. Since different factors impact condom use for each gender, the interventions designed to increase condom use must be centered on those factors. Since age was one of the consistent factors positively associated with condom use, interventions must begin earlier to affect the decision-making processes of young adults.
The Etiology Of Multiple Sclerosis And Correlation Of The Distribution Of The Disease With Migration And Settlement History Of Northern Europeans, Kristin M. Gunderson
The Etiology Of Multiple Sclerosis And Correlation Of The Distribution Of The Disease With Migration And Settlement History Of Northern Europeans, Kristin M. Gunderson
Public Health Theses
The geographic disparity of multiple sclerosis has been noted in the literature for well over a century. The frequency of the disease varies significantly both within countries and in different parts of the world. The goal of this project is to give new insight regarding the etiology of multiple sclerosis. Several theories regarding the etiology of the disease have been reviewed, including a geographic theory, a nutritional theory, and a genetic theory. Although the geographic and nutritional theories have been thoroughly investigated by researchers, neither of them provides a conclusive explanation for the etiology of the disease, and there are …
The Effect Of Urinary Cadmium On Cardiovascular Fitness As Measured By Vo2 Max In White, Black And Mexican Americans, Heartley Egwuogu
The Effect Of Urinary Cadmium On Cardiovascular Fitness As Measured By Vo2 Max In White, Black And Mexican Americans, Heartley Egwuogu
Public Health Theses
Context: Cadmium is an important predictor of lung function, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume and peak flow. Current evidence supports the notion that cadmium may be an important risk factor for cardiovascular fitness. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cadmium exposure on cardiovascular fitness in representative sample of US white, blacks and Mexican Americans. The study also sought to determine if the relationship between cadmium and cardiovascular fitness varies by gender and racial/ethnic group. Methods: The data utilized for this study were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). One-thousand …
Implications In Using Monte Carlo Simulation In Predicting Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Overweight Children And Adolescents, Stephen Matthew Heimbigner
Implications In Using Monte Carlo Simulation In Predicting Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Overweight Children And Adolescents, Stephen Matthew Heimbigner
Public Health Theses
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has increased considerably over the last few decades. As a result, increasing numbers of American children are developing multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. This thesis examines the use of Monte Carlo computer simulation for understanding risk factors associated with childhood overweight. A computer model is presented for predicting cardiovascular risk factors among overweight children and adolescents based on BMI levels. The computer model utilizes probabilities from the 1999 Bogalusa Heart Study authored by David S. Freedman, William H. Dietz, Sathanur …
Impact Of An Electronic Medical Record Implementation On Drug Allergy Overrides In A Large Southeastern Hmo Setting, Renny Varghese
Impact Of An Electronic Medical Record Implementation On Drug Allergy Overrides In A Large Southeastern Hmo Setting, Renny Varghese
Public Health Theses
Renny Varghese Impact of an Electronic Medical Record Implementation on Drug Allergy Overrides in a Large Southeastern HMO Setting (Under the direction of Russell Toal, Associate Professor) Electronic medical records (EMRs) have become recognized as an important tool for improving patient safety and quality of care. Decision support tools such as alerting functions for patient medication allergies are a key part of reducing the frequency of serious medication problems. Kaiser Permanente Georgia (KPGA) implemented its EMR system in the primary care departments at Kaiser's twelve facilities in the greater metro Atlanta area over a six month period beginning in June …
Comparison Of Antibiotic Sensitivity Profiles, Molecular Typing Patterns, And Attribution Of Salmonella Enterica Serotype Newport In The U.S., 2003-2006, Nehal Jitendralal Patel
Comparison Of Antibiotic Sensitivity Profiles, Molecular Typing Patterns, And Attribution Of Salmonella Enterica Serotype Newport In The U.S., 2003-2006, Nehal Jitendralal Patel
Public Health Theses
Salmonella causes gastrointestinal illness in humans. The purpose of the study was to determine the relative contribution of different food commodities to sporadic cases of salmonellosis (attribution analysis) caused by Salmonella Newport (SN) using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns and antimicrobial sensitivity (AST) data submitted by public health laboratories and regulatory agencies from 2003 to 2006. The genetic relationship between isolates from non-human (348) and human (10,848) sources was studied by two unique clustering methods: UPGMA and Ward. Results show poultry was the highest contributor of human SN infections, followed by tomatoes and beef. Beef was the largest contributing food …
Examination Of Gender Differences In Baseline Characteristics And 12 Month Death And Rehospitalization Of African American Patients Admitted For Acute Myocardial Infarction, Saadia Khizer
Public Health Theses
Coronary heart disease, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is the nation's leading cause of death. This study examined the characteristics and outcomes of 397 African American (AA) patients within one year of hospitalization due to AMI at Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH) in Atlanta. The PREMIER study, a nationwide registry, maintained by John Spertus MD, included data from patient interviews, medical records, and clinical characteristics like diabetes, hypertension, smoking, angina frequency and quality of life was used. Patient characteristics, associated with a major adverse event (MAE) within one-year post AMI were evaluated using SAS. Results showed a trend of higher odds …
Is Knowing Half The Battle? An Examination Of The Relationship Between Folic Acid Knowledge And Awareness And Daily Supplementation With Folic Acid Among 18 To 24 Year Old Women Who Are Not Contemplating Pregnancy, Katie P. Kilker
Public Health Theses
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects that affect 3,000 pregnancies in the United States annually. All women of childbearing age are recommended to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for the prevention of NTDs. Women aged 18 to 24 years have multiple risk factors for having an NTD-affected pregnancy and should be targeted by efforts to promote folic acid consumption. Survey data capturing folic acid awareness, knowledge, and supplementation behavior of women aged 18 to 24 years who are not contemplating pregnancy were examined to identify the relationship of folic acid awareness and knowledge to daily supplementation …
The Prevalence Of Nelson Bay Virus In Humans And Bats And Its Significance Within The Framework Of Conservation Medicine, Jennifer Betts Oliver
The Prevalence Of Nelson Bay Virus In Humans And Bats And Its Significance Within The Framework Of Conservation Medicine, Jennifer Betts Oliver
Public Health Theses
Public health professionals strive to understand how viruses are distributed in the environment, the factors that facilitate viral transmission, and the diversity of viral agents capable of infecting humans to characterize disease burdens and design effective disease intervention strategies. The public health discipline of conservation medicine supports this endeavor by encouraging researchers to identify previously unknown etiologic agents in wildlife and analyze the ecologic of basis of disease. Within this framework, this research reports the first examination of the prevalence in Southeast Asia of the orthoreovirus Nelson Bay virus in humans and in the Pteropus bat reservoir of the virus. …
Multiple Sclerosis Disease Distribution And Potential Impact Of Environmental Air Pollutants In Georgia, Anthony Charles Gregory
Multiple Sclerosis Disease Distribution And Potential Impact Of Environmental Air Pollutants In Georgia, Anthony Charles Gregory
Public Health Theses
This study’s purpose is to examine the potential relationships between MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and environmental outdoor air pollutants in GA (Georgia). We used secondary, cross-sectional data received from the member’s list of the National Multiples Sclerosis Society’s GA chapter (NMSS-GA), the U.S. census, and scorecard.org, a database based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (to 2002) and National Emissions Inventory (1999) data. The study population was 9,072,576 including 6,247 self-reported MS cases from NMSS-GA. Using stepwise multivariate linear regression of census and EPA data, the best predictive model in GA for female or total prevalence rates …
Obesity And The Built Environment In Twenty-Six Rural Georgia Counties: An Analysis Of Physical Activity, Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, And Environmental Factors., Kathleen Elizabeth Sobush
Obesity And The Built Environment In Twenty-Six Rural Georgia Counties: An Analysis Of Physical Activity, Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, And Environmental Factors., Kathleen Elizabeth Sobush
Public Health Theses
This study assesses environmental factors in the exercise and food environment, demographic factors, physical activity behavior, and fruit and vegetable consumption in 26 rural Georgia counties. The purpose of the study is to identify environmental indicators of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption; to see what agencies in Georgia, if any, are collecting these types of data systematically throughout the state; and, to analyze potential relationships between environmental factors and health behaviors. Physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption were derived from the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005). Demographic data were from the …
Physical Teen Dating Violence And Risk Behaviors Among Black And Latino Teens, Belsie R. Gonzalez
Physical Teen Dating Violence And Risk Behaviors Among Black And Latino Teens, Belsie R. Gonzalez
Public Health Theses
Victims of teen dating violence (TDV) in the United States engage in risk behaviors that increase their vulnerability to ill health. Although teen dating violence affects millions of adolescents of diverse ethnic backgrounds, there is a higher prevalence of TDV among Blacks and Latinos. In order to develop effective interventions for diverse populations, it is critical to understand the risk behaviors associated with different victims of TDV. The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether there is a difference between the risk behaviors (alcohol abuse, illegal drug use and perilous sexual intercourse) engaged in by Black, Latino and White …
The Role Of Gender Equality And Economic Development In Explaining Female Smoking Rates, Samina Shariff
The Role Of Gender Equality And Economic Development In Explaining Female Smoking Rates, Samina Shariff
Public Health Theses
Globally female smoking rates are considerably lower than male smoking rates. However, there is great concern regarding female smoking due to the potential for future increases and the associated harm to health. To gain a better understanding regarding female smoking, this study examines the role of gender equality and economic development in explaining the variability in female smoking rates and female-to-male smoking differentials by examining data from 193 World Health Organization member states. Data on the dependent variables, female smoking prevalence rates and female-to-male smoking prevalence ratio, were obtained from the Tobacco Atlas. Data on independent variables i.e., measures of …
The Impact Of The “Learn The Signs. Act Early.” Public Health Awareness Campaign On Early Intervention Behavior, Kinjal Prabodh Patel
The Impact Of The “Learn The Signs. Act Early.” Public Health Awareness Campaign On Early Intervention Behavior, Kinjal Prabodh Patel
Public Health Theses
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. Proactive adult behaviors leading to early intervention are a child’s best hope to reach their full potential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered with Porter Novelli to develop a public health campaign called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” The goal of this campaign was to increase awareness about the early warning signs of autism to help invoke positive behaviors in parents so that children receive services at the youngest age possible. HealthStyles survey data were analyzed to assess the difference in level of autism awareness of those surveyed …
Investigating Potential Risk Factors For Nursing Home Admission Associated With Individuals Enrolled In Georgia’S Community Care Services Program, Matthew L. Johnson
Investigating Potential Risk Factors For Nursing Home Admission Associated With Individuals Enrolled In Georgia’S Community Care Services Program, Matthew L. Johnson
Public Health Theses
This retrospective study examined records of 230 low-income elderly and disabled individuals enrolled in the Georgia Community Care Services Program (CCSP) which provides home health services in the client’s home rather than a nursing facility (NF). This study sought to determine if any common characteristics exist in program enrollees who enter a NF within one year of enrollment. Common factors found could be used to identify those who are at the highest risk for entering an NF. This knowledge could lead to reduced costs for the State of Georgia and better service for CCSP enrollees. Findings associated with NF entry …
Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Schoolchildren In Grand Bois Haiti: A Prevalence Study, John M. De Pasquale
Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Schoolchildren In Grand Bois Haiti: A Prevalence Study, John M. De Pasquale
Public Health Theses
This study used secondary data collected in 2006 to assess the prevalence and severity of three common soil-transmitted helminths in schoolchildren in rural, mountainous, eastern Haiti, and using a case-control design looked at age and gender as independent risk factors, and at anemia and growth failure as potential outcomes of infection. The primary aim was to determine if prevalence and severity were high enough to meet World Health Organization (WHO) population-based deworming criteria. Results do support mass deworming, but overall, indicate no correlation between the other independent variables or outcome measures with presence of disease. A secondary data set from …